1. The urban heat island effect can be exacerbated by the smooth surfaces of buildings, such as these in Dallas.

    What's behind urban heat islands?

    Researchers are using specialized modeling techniques have learned how turbulence keeps the countryside cooler than urban areas on summer days.

    • Climate

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  2. Thunderstorms and ozone:  A rotating supercell thunderstorm moves across northeast Colorado.

    Not just rain: thunderstorms also pour down ozone

    Scientists find unequivocal evidence that thunderstorms move ozone from the stratosphere down toward Earth's surface, affecting air quality and climate.

    • Climate,
    • Air Quality

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  3. tropical rain forests and CO2: Serra do Mar Paranaense, Brazil

    Tropical forests have large appetite for carbon dioxide

    A new study led by NASA and NCAR shows that tropical forests may be absorbing far more human-emitted carbon dioxide than many scientists thought.

    • Climate

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  4. Sailboat in calm sea near Kiribati

    Coral reveals long-term link between Pacific winds, global climate

    A piece of coral in a University of Arizona lab has revealed a link between Pacific trade winds and shifts in 20th century climate.

    • Climate

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  5. VAPOR scientific visualization of Hurricane Katrina

    NCAR partners with UC San Diego on visualization capabilities

    The collaboration will expand visualization capabilities in the bio- and geosciences, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation.

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